Tempera paint

Definition

Tempera paint is a fast-drying medium made from colored pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder, often egg yolk. It was widely used in portraiture and religious painting during colonial America, as it allowed for vibrant colors and fine detail while remaining affordable and accessible. This technique provided artists with the ability to create detailed and expressive works that were essential for conveying both personal and religious narratives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tempera paint was favored by early American artists because it dried quickly, allowing for efficient layering and corrections.
2. This medium produced a matte finish, which differed from the glossy look achieved with oil paints, affecting how light interacted with the artwork.
3. Commonly used for religious paintings, tempera allowed artists to depict intricate details and vibrant colors in iconography and portraits.
4. Colonial American artists often mixed their own tempera paints, using readily available materials like egg yolks, water, and natural pigments.
5. The use of tempera declined in favor of oil paints by the 18th century due to oil's longer drying time, which allowed for more blending and depth in color.

Review Questions

• How did the properties of tempera paint influence the style and technique of portraiture and religious painting in colonial America?
  • The quick-drying nature of tempera paint allowed artists to work efficiently, enabling them to layer colors and make corrections rapidly. This characteristic was crucial for portraiture, where capturing likeness was essential. Additionally, the matte finish of tempera contributed to a distinct aesthetic in religious paintings, emphasizing clarity and detail in depictions of saints and biblical figures without the reflective qualities of oil paint.
• Discuss the reasons why tempera paint was a preferred medium among colonial American artists compared to other types of paint.
  • Colonial American artists preferred tempera paint due to its affordability, accessibility of materials, and quick drying time. With ingredients such as egg yolk being readily available, artists could create their own paints without relying on expensive imports. Moreover, the vibrant colors achieved through tempera facilitated detailed representations important for both personal portraits and religious subjects, making it ideal for their artistic needs.
• Evaluate the impact of the transition from tempera to oil paint on artistic expression in colonial America.
  • The transition from tempera to oil paint marked a significant shift in artistic expression in colonial America. While tempera provided clarity and vibrant colors suitable for detailed work, oil paints offered greater flexibility with longer drying times that allowed artists to blend colors more seamlessly. This shift enabled a deeper exploration of texture, light, and shadow in portraits and landscapes, resulting in more dynamic compositions and richer emotional content in artworks produced during the 18th century.

Related terms

Egg Tempera: A traditional painting medium made from powdered pigments mixed with egg yolk, used primarily in early Renaissance art.

Fresco: A mural painting technique involving the application of water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster, resulting in a durable artwork.

Oil Paint: A slow-drying painting medium made from pigments suspended in oil, which became popular after tempera due to its versatility and richness in color.